Objective To study the effects of a rotating magnetic field(RMF)on Li pilocarpine-in- duced seizure activity and the expression of mGluR1 and mGluR5 in the hippocampus.Methods Thirty rats were divided into 5 groups.Each rat in the model(M),short treatment(ST)and long treatment(LT)groups was treated with intra-peritoneal injections of lithium chloride(60 mg/kg),followed by an intra-peritoneal injec- tion of pilocarpine(35 mg/kg)24 h later.The rats in the ST group were exposed to 20 mT RMF for 20 min ev- ery day for 3 d before seizure induction,while the rats in LT group were exposed to the same RMF for 8 d.The latency,severity and duration of seizure,as well as accompanying symptoms and electroencephalogram data, were recorded,and the expression of mGluR1 and mGluR5 was calculated using an electrophoretic imaging anal- ysis system.Results The duration,times and accompanying symptoms of seizure were significantly decreased in the LT group.The mGluR1 mRNA level and mGluR1/mGluR5 ratio in the M group were markedly increased, but the mGluR5 mRNA level was obviously decreased,while the expression of mGluR1 in the ST and LT groups was decreased,and mGluR5 was increased.Conclusions Seizure activity in rats can be inhibited by 20 mT RMF,and the expression of mGluRl and mGluR5 in the hippocampus of rats suffering seizures can be markedly influenced by longer-term RMF.

Objeetive To evaluate the efficacy of loratadine combined with de-escalation therapy for infant wheeze.Methods One hundred out-patients from Dec.2011 to Apr.2012 were randomly divided into 2 groups:Loratadine combined with de-escalation therapy was adopted in Loratadine group,while no Loratadine was taken in control group.The dose of Loratadine was 0.3 mL/(kg · d),14 days ; oral Prednisone 0.5 mg/(kg · d),3 days; Azithromycin 10 mg/(kg · d),3 days; Tulobuterol patch 0.5 mg/d,7 days; Montelukast 4 mg/d,14 days.Control group abolished Loratadine,but the rest of drugs were same as Loratadine group.Results The respiratory symptoms (gasp,wheeze sound,phlegm removal difficulty) and the nasal symptoms (including nasal congestion,sneeze,runny nose)in the acute phase of infant wheeze all had therapeutic effect,and there were significant differences in scoring symptoms (all P ＜ 0.05).The Loratadine group had certain treatment effect on eczema.The cough symptoms in 3 days,7days,14 days of the treatment had statistically significant differences between the both groups (all P ＜ 0.05).And there were statistical differences in eczema symptom of the Loratadine group in 7 days and 14 days of treatment (all P ＜ 0.05).Control group still had no statistical differences (all P ＞ 0.05).Days of improvement in symptoms,wheeze recurrence rate and frequency of respiratory infections in I month between 2 groups had no significant differences.Conclusions Loratadine can obviously improve the patients' breathing cough symptoms,and play a certain role in the treatment combined with de-escalation therapy in infant wheezing,and has high safety and eczema therapy effect.Loratadine can be used in clinic personally according to the patient's condition.

Objective To evaluate the CT findings of pancreatic carcinoid tumors.Methods The CT imaging data of five patients with pancreatic carcinoid tumors confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.Results The tumors ranged in maximum diameter from 2.0 to 11.0 cm with a mean of 6.4 cm. On unenhanced CT,the tumors were slightly hypodense relative to the pancreatic parenchyma,homogenous in 2 cases,and heterogenous in 3 cases.One tumor showed calcification.After contrast material injection, the solid component of the tumor showed marked heterogenous enhancement on the arterial phase scanning in 3 cases,and mild heterogenous enhancement in 2 cases.The degree of tumor enhancement was less intense than the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma due to necrosis of various degree,which led to the cystic appearance of the tumor in 1 ease.On the portal phase scanning,all tumors showed marked enhancement similar to that of the pancreatic parenchyma.On the delayed phase scanning,the degree of enhancement was more intense than the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma in 1 case.Liver metastases with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and peripancreatic vessels invasion were seen in 1 case.No dilatation of the biliary tract or pancreatic duct was present.Conclusion The CT features of pancreatic carcinoid tumors included infrequent dilatation of the biliary tract or pancreatic duct and unusual vascular involvement,calcification within the mass,marked enhancement similar to that of the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma during the portal phase scanning and more intense during the delayed phase scanning.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the adhesive and invasive ability of four common periodontal pathogens, Pg33277, Pi25611, Aa29522 and Fn10953 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

METHODSThe model of infection of HUVEC by periodontal pathogens was established in vitro. The invasive ability of four periodontal pathogens in HUVEC was tested by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and antibiotic protection assays-colony-forming units (CFU).

RESULTSAll of the four periodontal pathogens were found to adhere to HUVEC by SEM and invaded HUVEC at invasion numbers of (0.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(8), (4.1 +/- 0.5) x 10(6), (1.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(6) and (5.0 +/- 0.4) x 10(6) CFU/L respectively by antibiotic protection assays-CFU. The invasion efficiencies were (0.400 +/- 0.050)%, (0.021 +/- 0.003)%, (0.008 +/- 0.002)% and (0.025 +/- 0.002)%, respectively. The invasive ability of Pg33277 was significantly greater than those of the other three periodontal pathogens (P < 0.001). There was no difference in invasive abilities among Pi25611, Aa29522 and Fn10953 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAll of the four common periodontal pathogens, Pg33277, Pi25611, Aa29522 and Fn10953 could adhere to and invaded HUVEC, with Pg33277 being the strongest.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; pathogenicity ; ultrastructure ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Cells, Cultured ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; pathogenicity ; ultrastructure ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; pathogenicity ; ultrastructure ; Prevotella intermedia ; pathogenicity ; ultrastructure

BACKGROUNDRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has become one of the leading causes of visual loss in children. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is the principal stimulator of angiogenesis. VEGF was differentially spliced from exon 8 to exons 8a and 8b to form two families: the pro-angiogenic VEGFxxx family and the anti-angiogenic VEGFxxxb family. Previous research has shown variable effeteness of bevacizumab in inhibiting retinal neovascularization in ROP. This study aimed to investigate whether the effectiveness of this inhibition depends on the relative ratio of the two VEGF isoforms.

METHODSIntravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) was performed in the oxygen-induced-retinopathy (OIR) mice on postnatal day 12 (P12) (intravitreal phosphate buffered saline (PBS) injection as control). The Evans blue perfused retina were used to test the retinal neovascularization-leakage (NVL) area and non-perfusion (NP) area.

RESULTSThe retinal NVL and NP area in the IVB group were significantly smaller than the intravitreal PBS injection group (IVP group). On P17, the protein level of total VEGF isoforms was significantly inhibited compared to IVP group (P < 0.05) while VEGF(165)b isoform was slight reduced (P > 0.05). The switch from pro-angiogenic isoforms to anti-angiogenic isoforms after IVB could be found. The relative protein expression of VEGF(165)b isoform was significantly higher in IVB group than in IVP group (P < 0.05) on P17 which was correlated with the reduced ischemia-induced angiogenesis in OIR mice after IVB.

CONCLUSIONSThe anti-angiogenic effectiveness might depend on the relative high expression of VEGF(165)b after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Anti-angiogenic therapy is a more effective therapy for ROP.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; administration & dosage ; Bevacizumab ; Disease Models, Animal ; Intravitreal Injections ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Protein Isoforms ; analysis ; Retinal Neovascularization ; prevention & control ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; drug therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

A variety of biomarkers have been identified in recent prospective and retrospective reports as being potentially predictive of venous thromboembolis (VTE), particularly idiopathic deep venous thrombosis (IDVT). This study identified a serum tumor biomarker for early screening of IDVT. A total of 128 IDVT patients (54 females and 74 males; average age: 50.9±17.4 years) were included. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin, β2-microglobulin, cancer antigen (CA) 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (f-PSA), and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) in patients with IDVT were detected. Malignancies were histo- or cytopathologically confirmed. Of the 128 IDVT patients, 16 (12.5%) were found to have malignancies. Serum CEA, CA 125, CA 15-3, and CA 19-9 were found to be helpful for detecting malignancies in IDVT patients. Our study revealed a positive association between these markers and tumors in IDVT patients. On the other hand, SCC and AFP were not sensitive enough to be markers for detecting tumors in patients with IDVT. No significant differences were found in positive rates of ferritin and β2-microglobulin between tumor and non-tumor groups, and no significant difference exists in serum levels of ferritin and β2-microglobulin between the two groups. Carbohydrate antigens, CA 15-3 in particular, may be useful for differential diagnosis and prediction of malignancies in patients with IDVT.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quantitative relationship between white matter tract (WMT) variation resulting from cerebral tumors and shifting of the fractional anisotropy (FA) index in magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

METHODSFour female and 8 male patients aged from 21 to 62 years with brain malignancies (2 malignant lymphomas, 2 low-grade astrocytomas, and 8 high-grade cerebral gliomas) underwent conventional contrast-enhanced MR and DTI examinations before operation. Routine T(2)-weighted image, fractional anisotropic (FA) map, color-coded directional map, three-dimensional white matter tractography (WMT), and the FA index of bilateral internal capsule were obtained in every patient.

RESULTSFiber tractography derived from DTI was consistent with known white matter fiber anatomy. The DTI patterns in WMT altered by the tumor were categorized on the basis of FA1/FA2 ratio as follows: pattern 1, FA1/FA2> or =75% with normal or only slightly decreased FA; pattern 2, 50%< or =FA1/FA2<75% with WMT displacement; pattern 3, 25%< or =FA1/FA2/50% with WMT involvement; pattern 4, FA1/FA2<25% with WMT destruction.

CONCLUSIONSDTI allows for visualization of WMT and benefits surgical planning for patients with intrinsic brain tumor. There is a positive relationship between the bilateral FA ratio (FA1/FA2) variation and WMT alterations resulting from the tumor.

Adult ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Glioblastoma ; diagnosis ; Glioma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers ; diagnostic imaging ; Neural Pathways ; radiation effects ; Preoperative Care ; Radiography ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of rhynchophylline on methamphetamine-dependent zebrafish and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSZebrafish were divided into control group, amphetamine group, low- (50 mg/kg) and high (100 mg/kg)-dose rhynchophylline groups, and ketamine (150 mg/kg) group. Conditioned place preference (CPP) was induced in zebrafish with methamphetamine, and the staying time in the drug box and the tracking map of the zebrafish were observed with Noldus Ethovision XT system. The protein expressions of TH, NR2B and GLUR2 in the brain of zebrafish with CPP were detected with Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, zebrafish in methamphetamine group showed significant variations in the staying time and swimming distance in the drug box after conditioning (P<0.05) with obvious alterations of NR2B, TH and GLUR2 expressions in the brain (P<0.05). Treatment of methamphetamine-dependent zebrafish with high-dose rhynchophylline significantly reduced the variations in the staying time and swimming distance in the drug box (P<0.05) and in the expressions of NR2B, TH and GLUR2 in the brain (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONRhynchophylline can inhibit methamphetamine dependence in zebrafish, the mechanism of which may involve the expressions of TH, NR2B and GLUR2 proteins in the brain.

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of white matter fiber tractography based on magnetic resonance diffusion-tensor imaging (MR-DTI), a new noninvasive technique that helps estimate the structural connectivity of the brain, in understanding the anatomy of the white matter fiber tract.

METHODSSix consecutive volunteers received MR-DTI examination using a GE 1.5T Sign CV/I whole-body MR system and version 2.0 Functool software for image processing. The protocol included T1WI for localization and single-shot echo-planner diffusion tensor imaging of the entire brain in axial, sagittal, and /or coronal sections.

RESULTSWhite matter fiber tracts imaged by MR-DTI were consistent with known white matter fiber anatomy. The major fiber tracts were well observed in all the cases. The tracts visualized included the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, uncinate fasciculus superior and inferior longitudinal fascicules, inferior occipito-frontal fasciculus, internal capsule and corona radiate.

CONCLUSIONA set of detailed white matter fiber anatomy maps of the normal brain is obtained by means of single-shot echo-planner diffusion tensor imaging at high resolution. This technique allows rapid visualization of the white matter tracts in vivo, and provides a new reliable means for studying fiber connectivity in the brain.

Adult ; Brain ; anatomy & histology ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of KIR/HLA ligand matching which mediates activated or inhibitory signal pathways on acute rejection (AR) after kidney transplantation.

METHODSHLA and KIR genotype assortments were analyzed in 53 donor/recipient pairs of kidney transplantation. The recipients were divided into AR group (GI, n=19) and stable renal function group (GII, n=34) based on the early graft function. The impact of donor HLA, recipient KIR and distinct KIR/HLA class I ligand combinations on acute rejection after kidney transplantation was studied.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found in donor HLA-C1/2, HLA-A3, HLA-A11, or HLA-Bw4 between GI and GII groups. The frequency for KIR2DL2/2DS2 and KIR genotype assortment (AA) of the recipients in GI group were significantly lower than that in GII group (26.3% vs 55.9%, P=0.038; 31.6% vs 67.6%, P=0.011). The incidence of AR was significantly lower in donor HLA-C1/1 than in non-C1/1 (31.6% vs 46.7%, P>0.05), and lower in recipient KIR genotype assortment (AA) than in non-AA (20.7% vs 52.2%, P=0.011). A significant higher number of matches for the KIR2DL2/ HLA-C1 and KIR2DL3/HLA-C1 were observed in GII group (P=0.030, P=0.028).

CONCLUSIONDistinct KIR/HLA class I ligand combinations between the donor and recipient (such as KIR2DL2/ HLA-C1 and KIR2DL3/HLA-C1) may reduce the incidence of AR. A good KIR/HLA class I ligand matching will benefit the survival of the renal allograft.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; immunology ; Graft Survival ; immunology ; HLA Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Ligands ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, KIR ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Signal Transduction ; Young Adult